Do you ever get overwhelmed looking at the InDesign CC user interface?

I second the idea of creating a scaled-back workspace. And either close the Control panel and use the individual panels...or just use the Control panel.

I am with Barb in that I've been using it so long it's not overwhelming (though I often forget where something lives). NOW...the second I open Premiere Pro, I completely feel your pain!

Also, you might start with resetting your current workspace (Window menu) before you add and subtract other panels.

We can't see all of your workspace, but one thing to do is to close that Paragraph panel, because all of its functions are duplicated in the Paragraph section of the Control panel just above it. You don't need both.

As Barb said you can eliminate excess functions in the Control panel but you can also simplify the interface even more by creating a custom workspace. Close any panels you don’t use regularly and rearrange the rest until the the layout is more comfortable for you. Then under the workspace menu choose ”New Workspace” and give it a name when prompted. If you do this with no document open and then close the program it will become part of your preference file and be there whenever you open InDesign.

Hi u9iouiuljuiouj:

I'd say no, but I've been using InDesign from the first version on and the buttons were added gradually over the years. However, I understand your point.

Most of the buttons are shortcuts for menu commands—you could always hide the Control panel and use menus or shortcuts. You could also use the gear icon at the far right to hide buttons you never use, if that helps.

Otherwise, it's just going to take time to figure out which Tool displays which buttons in the Control panel.

~Barb